Highlighting the contribution of survey research in the changing data environment

Over the past decade, survey researchers have had to confront a number of challenges to the methods at the heart of their practice. During the same period, rapid advances in web and mobile-web technology have created a wealth of new opportunities for data gathering. These developments have resulted in a sea change in how surveys are being conducted, and a host of new opportunities for methodological research aimed at identifying best practice principles for practitioners and providing recommendations to analysts who work with the data.

These recent advances in survey science have been taking place in the context of a fast-evolving data environment, in which alternative forms and sources of data are increasingly available on a vast scale, offering exciting new ways to address research objectives that in the past were met by survey methods, as well as ones for which survey methods alone would be unsuitable. The potential offered by big data sources and the growth of data science methods and tools necessary to handle them, are both redefining the role that surveys play in social research, as well as bringing to light the continued importance and value of the survey method as a tool for understanding society. ESRA has already initiated its contribution to this movement, collaborating in the organisation of the BigSurv18 conference, which takes place in October 2018. We plan to continue the conversation in Zagreb next July.

As survey and data science advances, it is important to remember the corresponding need to address public trust in statistical research and improve data skills and literacy across all stakeholders. The conference in Zagreb will also provide an opportunity to consider how, as an organisation, ESRA can contribute to meeting this demand.

Organisation

As in previous years, the scientific programme of the conference will be constructed on the basis of an initial call for session proposals, followed by a call for abstracts inviting submissions to the accepted sessions. Once a session has been accepted in the programme, session organisers are responsible for publicising their session and inviting abstracts for presentations (to be submitted via the ESRA conference management system), reviewing the abstracts they receive, and for liaising with presenters and the ESRA conference committee.